Monday 18th April 2011 Titanic sinking anniversary marked by service
A service to mark the 99th anniversary of the sinking of the RMS
Titanic has taken place in Southampton, Hampshire. The service
dedicated to the ill-fated cruise liner was led by the Archbishop of
Armagh to remember the 1,517 people who lost their lives on 15 April
1912. The congregation at St Mary’s Church included relatives of those
who died when the Belfast-built ship sank after hitting an iceberg in
the North Atlantic. A wreath was dropped into Southampton Water by the
Titanic Society during another ceremony held aboard Blue Funnel’s
vessel, the Ocean Scene. Hampshire

Tuesday 5th April 2011 Calshot tug boat heads to heritage site
A tug boat that once manoeuvred luxury liners in port is about to make
its final voyage in the Solent. The 82-year-old Tug Tender Calshot
will be exhibited at a planned Aeronautica museum in Trafalgar Dock in
Southampton. The luxury tender ferried the famous from anchored ships,
including Winston Churchill and Elizabeth Taylor. The £8m heritage
attraction is due to open in 2015. Project officer Alan Jones said:
"Calshot will be a centre-piece to a new heritage centre which will
portray Southampton's aviation and maritime legacy. The tug will
represent the great liner era of the city." Hampshire

Thursday 31st March 2011 Third egg produced by rare bird of prey
A goshawk nesting in woodland near Lyndhurst in Hampshire has
reportedly laid a third egg. The RSPB are speculating that the bird
might lay a fourth egg later this week. The eggs will all hatch in
late May. Once driven to the point of extinction, there are now only
500 breeding pairs of goshawks in the UK, with 20 of the pairs known
to be in Hampshire. The goshak’s nest is being watched by the RSPB via
a special webcam set up to monitor the nest. The nest is in an
undisclosed location near Lyndhurst in the New Forest. Hampshire

Monday 28th March 2011 Portsmouth to Bilbao ferry route resumes
The Portsmouth to Bilbao passenger ferry route has been re-opened,
just six months after P&O Ferries closed it due to “unsustainable
losses”. The route has been taken over by Brittany Ferries who say
they are confident that it will make money. The ferry, the Cap
Finistere, will make the twice-weekly service between England and
Spain. Mike Bevens, from Brittany Ferries, said: "Bilbao has forged a
reputation as a destination in its own right in recent years. As the
numbers of air travellers from the UK to Spain have declined, we've
witnessed a surge in demand for direct UK to Spain crossings. Our
customers welcome being able to relax on a comfortable and spacious
cruise-ferry and the freedom that having their own car brings." Hampshire

Thursday 24th March 2011 Sailors walk on ‘new’ island in Solent
A combination of low tides and high atmospheric pressure conspired to
expose parts of Shingles Bank on the western edge of the Needles
Channel. A group of sailors couldn’t resist the opportunity this
presented and so they sailed out to the ‘new’ island to plant a flag
on it - and even had time to enjoy a barbecue on the bank. The shingle
bank is normally concealed underwater, and poses a significant risk to
shipping. The bank was estimated to have been about 14ft out of the
ater when the sailors visited it. Royal Southern Yacht Club’s Mike
Jones said: “"We don't know anyone who has seen it so far out of the
water in 20 years." Hampshire

Monday 21st February 2011 Portsmouth starts work on first council houses for a decade
Work is due to start in March 2011 on 18 new council homes being built
in Portsmouth. The building will be constructed in Watts Road,
Buckland and represents the first local authority homes to be built in
the city in 10 years. The construction is scheduled to complete in
time for the tenants to move in by Christmas. The development features
two five-bedroom houses, four four-bedroom houses and six flats.
Children from Charles Dickens School are to name the building, and are
set to choose from four options - Manette House, Westerman House, Rope
Walk House and Chubb House. Hampshire

Wednesday 9th February 2011 HMS not-so-Invicible to be scrapped
A once proud aircraft carrier of the British Navy, the HMS Invincible
is getting ready to depart Portsmouth on her final voyage. She’s
heading for Turkey, where she’ll be broken up for scrap. The carrier,
which saw action during the Falklands war, will take four weeks to tow
to Turkey and another eight months to dismantle. A Ministry of Defence
spokesman said: "After 25 years of service HMS Invincible was
decommissioned nearly six years ago and having reached the end of her
distinguished career, it is right that we secure a good financial
return for the taxpayer. Hampshire

Monday 17th January 2011 Pigs on the loose in Southampton
Two vietnamese pot-bellied pigs, one white and one black, have escaped
from a farm and are on the loose in Southampton. Police received
reports of a number of sightings since the break out on the afternoon
of Saturday, January 15, 2011. The RSPCA are dealing with the incident
but have said that although the animals should not be dangerous,
members of the public should contact them rather than attempt to
recapture the pigs. Police have been reported as saying the escape may
be linked to a "breakdown in the relationship" between the couple at
the farm. A spokesman for Hampshire police said: "We have a number of
sightings but they are still on the loose. It is a bit unusual but we
have passed the case to the RSPCA.” Hampshire

Friday 3rd December 2010 Hayling Island ferry fails safety test
The passenger ferry linking Portsmouth with Hayling Island in
Hampshire has failed a second inspection. The Pride of Hayling had
previously been deemed unsafe and taken out of service after a
previous examination done as part of its annual checks. A subsequent
inspection last week by coastguards found life-jackets "defective" and
staff members not "able to cope" with a set of emergency scenarios put
to them. Operator Edwards and Co told the press that the crew were
working to get the 200 year-old ferry route running again. The
three-and-a-half minute ferry ride can run up to 30 times a day during
the week, with the only alternative to the hop across the harbour
being a long trip by road. Hampshire

Wednesday 1st December 2010 HMS Invincible to sell on auction website
The Royal navy is parting with HMS Invincible via a military disposal
website. The Barrow-built light aircraft carrier is being sold by the
the Disposal Services Authority. Portsmouth based Invincible has an
estimated metal weight of 10,000 tonnes and is likely to be sold for
scrap, according to naval expert Jon Rosamond. HMS Invincible was
decommissioned in 2005 after 25 years' Royal Navy service. The
Invincible was started in Barrow in 1973 and entered active service
seven years later. Prince Andrew was a Sea King helicopter pilot on
board the ship during the Falklands War. Bids for the ship have to be
in by 5 January. Hampshire